International SELF Research Centre's Dennis McInerney
PhD Award 2025

Since 2009, the Global SELF Research Network PhD Award has been presented at the International SELF Conference for the most outstanding doctoral dissertation(s) in the field over the previous three years.

For the 2025 conference, all applicants must have been awarded their doctoral degrees between June 2022 and October 2025; applicants must also be registered for the conference.

1. There will be only one PhD award winner, who will receive a certificate for the award and an invitation to present a keynote at the next SELF Conference.
   
   
2. There will be honorary mentions of 2-3 runners-up at the conference.
   
   
3. This award recognizes outstanding contributions made by doctoral students whose thesis focus lies within the different research traditions that drive self and identity research. Topics could include (but are not limited to):

Criteria for the Award

The major criterion will be excellence in the doctoral dissertation, as evidenced by its contribution to the extant scientific literature. The contribution can be theoretical, methodological, or empirical. In addition, the dissertation will be assessed according to the following criteria:

1. Originality and Independence of Research Contributions

• The thesis will be assessed in terms of the original and independent contributions of the applicant. Applicants will be evaluated based on their unique and active role in developing and executing the program of research. This includes all aspects of the research contribution: the formulation of the research question; the selection and use of research methods; the data collection; and data analysis. This should be addressed by the applicant (in the abstract) and the supervisor (in the nomination letter).

2. Significance to the Field

• The thesis will be assessed on its theoretical and/or practical contributions to the field. Depending on the nature of the thesis topic, it should make an original and significant contribution to existing theoretical knowledge and/or provide practical applications to existing problems.

3. Excellence in the Canons of Academic Writing

• Organization: The presentation of the abstract should follow APA guidelines.
• Clarity: Writing should be clear, easy-to-understand, and jargon should be minimized.

4. Excellence in Research

• Conceptual Framework: The abstract should provide a clear statement of the problem. Specific aims, research questions and/or hypotheses should be provided.
• Design: The abstract should contain a clear description of the research design.
• Method: A method section should be included in the abstract. It should contain details of the sample, any apparatus, instrumentation, or materials used, and the procedure employed to collect the data.
• Analysis and Findings: The method of data analysis and the results should be clearly, but succinctly, stated in the abstract.

5. Validity of Conclusions

• Clarity: The abstract should clearly state all conclusions. These should be substantiated by the evidence gathered in the study.
• Validity: In the abstract, both the limitations of the study and the generalizability of the findings should be stated.

Procedure for Nominations

For the 2025 conference, all nominees must have been awarded their doctoral degrees between June 2022 and October 2025; applicants must also be registered for the conference.

Nominations are accepted until (date)

To submit an application, candidates must provide the following documents in a single PDF file.

All nominations should include the following four documents:

1. An extended abstract (2000 words max.)
2. A copy of examiners' reports (strongly recommended, but not eliminatory)
3. A nomination letter from the candidate's primary doctoral supervisor (3 pages maximum - including contact details).
4. A narrative autobiography (500 words maximum) describing salient research experiences, publications, presentations, collaborations, post-PhD accomplishments, and career plans
5. A copy of the diploma or proof of the final submission of the thesis.
6. Please email the completed nomination file to admin@eras.org.sg by 30 July 2025 to be considered.

Sim Wong Kooi Memorial Research Prize

To honour the late Professor Sim who passed away on 3 May 2023, ERAS decided to establish a new cash prize in his name to recognize his contributions as the founding President of the Educational Research Association of Singapore. This research prize, funded and managed entirely by ERAS, is also to honour his legacy and visionary leadership and commitment to excellence in education.

This prize aims to encourage students to present papers related to educational research at international conferences that are in line with Prof Sim's emphasis on evidence-based teaching and educational research. One prize will be presented per award year.

Award Eligibility & Conditions:

• Full/Part-time students (local and international) enrolled in autonomous universities and IHLs in Singapore.
• Paper accepted and presented for conference presentation during the 'qualifying period' as first or sole author.
• Papers that have already been presented or which will be presented at ERAS conferences will not be eligible for this prize
• Must be an ERAS member to apply. 
• Any discipline, as long as the paper is related to educational research and informs evidence-based teaching and learning.
• Ready to submit the expanded paper to ERAS for consideration of the award.
• Have not won any other prizes from the conference that you have attended/will be attending.

Award Criteria:

The selection committee will consider the following:

• A clear definition and statement of the problem or issue researched. 
• An explanation of the theoretical approach underpinning the research.
• A clear explanation of the reasons for selecting certain research methodologies or techniques.
• The presentation and analysis of data, and the conclusions you might have reached.
• Recommendations (if appropriate) justified by those conclusions.

Dates:

• Authors/presenters should submit the same abstract for presentation by 30 July 2025 via the conference website.
• The deadline for submission is 15 October 2025. (Wednesday).

Winners will be announced at the closing of the conference on Friday 21 November 2025.

Application Form

ERAS Conference Teacher Research Paper Prizes

In recognition of research by educational practitioners in schools and tertiary institutions in Singapore (e.g., Polytechnics and Technical institutes), ERAS will be presenting up to two prizes of SGD$1,500 each to the presenters/teams who are awarded the Teacher Research Paper Prizes. Each recipient will also receive a certificate.

All entries must fulfil the following conditions:

1. Practitioner- and school-based research papers from educational institutions in Singapore.
2. Authors/Presenters must not be from degree-awarding institutions.

3. Entries must have been submitted to the ERAS Track and presented at the ERAS Conference.
4. Research must have an impact on teaching and learning (e.g., a teaching strategy to improve student learning).

Authors/presenters should submit the same abstract for presentation by 30 July 2025 via the conference website.

The ERAS Conference Teacher Research Paper Prizes application can be submitted using the online template.
The deadline for submission is 15 October 2025. (Wednesday).

Winners will be announced at the closing of the conference on Friday 21 November 2025.

ERAS Conference Student Research Paper Prize

In recognition of research by students, ERAS will be presenting up to two prizes of SGD$1,000 each to the presenters/teams who are awarded the Student Research Paper Prizes. Each recipient will also receive a certificate.

All entries must fulfil the following conditions:
1. Research papers authored by students enrolled in educational institutions.
2. The students must have submitted to the ERAS Track and presented their papers at the ERAS conference.
3. Research must have an impact on teaching and learning.

Authors/presenters should submit the same abstract for presentation by 30 July 2025 via the conference website.

The ERAS Conference Student Research Paper Prizes application can be submitted using the online template.

The deadline for submission is 15 October 2025. (Wednesday).

Winners will be announced at the closing of the conference on Friday, 21 November 2025.